Speck of Sand

There is one like her every year: the quiet one who might get overlooked in a crowded classroom or a busy hallway. She's the one who always seems to know the answer, but she seldom says it out loud. Mild-mannered, maybe a little shy, she goes about the business of excellence in her own peaceful way. She goes by the moniker Speck of Sand, seemingly appropriate for one so quiet and unassuming. And it would go like that all year with no one ever the wiser if not for the magic of the Internet. You see, in this online classroom, the name Speck of Sand becomes pure irony. No way will she be overlooked here! She is the superstar! She is the most noticeable and the loudest. In the virtual classroom, she is the one with her hand in the air, demanding the attention and respect of her classmates. Hers are the blogs with the coolest graphics, backgrounds, templates, and mouse trails. Hers are the discussion posts with the massive pictures of Asian soap opera stars in the signature line. She's the one with the coolest avatar, and it's clear that she is comfortable and at home in this online world where intelligence and attention to detail make such an obvious difference in the quality of the final product. She was my unofficial Honors TA, who knew more about how to make the computer bend to her creative will than anyone in the class...including the teacher!
There's one like her every year. Who will it be this time? Maybe you....